The British say "Mind the Gap." As transportation safety goes, it's succinct and memorable. And it's catachy enough that it's been printed on tee shirts and baseball caps.
The Americans say, "To avoid tripping while stepping off the train, please pay attention to the gap between the platform and the train."
We've also got to listen to admonitions to "Remain vigilant at all times," every 90 seconds, at South Station. "Remember, if you see something, say something."
Now, this alert takes common sense in all kinds of precarious directions. Suspect the person sitting next to you. Look for an excuse to rat them out. Behave within strictly limited parameters to avoid being reported yourself!
But hearing it every 90 seconds undoes the urgency, anyway, so it just becomes another part of the background chatter. It goes from police state propaganda right down to subliminal reprogramming.
I pity the poor vendors and maintenance staff that work in the station and have to listen to that calm voice calmly preaching aggressive vigilance all day long. They must hear it in their sleep.
Why do we need so many public announcements, and why they have to be so damn verbose? Can't they save the PA system for letting us know when the trains are running late?
What's it like in your area? Are you pummelled with safety announcements in
public spaces?